Heritage Album

Facial features, heritage, physical features?

I am researching my family's genealogy, english, irish, german, french and dutch & possibly american indian. As I go through old pictures I find people who look similar to me in certain aspects. I am interested in learning about common inherited features from certain groups of people - for instance, my mother used to tell me that I have an "english jaw", I've also been told I look like I have american indian blood. I also have "shovel-teeth" and high nerve sensitivity in my mouth, which is also said to be an american indian trait. Is there a website that lists common shared traits amoung peoples such as these? I have not found one. bomullock: interesting info, I'll have to read a bit more about that.

Public Comments

1. The shovel teeth are also an Asian trait. Eyes are another aspect that really can't be used. I knew a Prairie Band Potawatomi man who was 7/8th blood but had blue eyes, his sister had violet eyes. I have blue eyes, black hair, and fair skin, but I'm Mohawk. It's really a genetic crap shoot when you think about it and to be honest, I don't really trust all the DNA stuff they've tried to bring about, proving Native American Indian ancestry. If you need help with your Native genealogy though, feel free to email me and I'll give you a hand if I'm able; I specialize in Native ancestry. There are several genealogy groups on my 360 page that you might check out as we have hundreds of people who love to voluteer to help with searches. As for a website that lists common traits, I haven't seen one but would be more than willing to check it out if someone has a link. Peace and good luck in your search! Beki
2. This might get you started http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogeographic_ancestry it deals with genetic traits of nationalities, lots of links that could aid in your search. I inherited the long arms which are a German trait (mom and all of her family)and the premature white hair from my Dutch great grandfather.
3. Unless you're positive you have American Indian in you, like photo's or names, there is no real way to tell since you're mostly of European descent. I say this because many freed slaves in the country were "lumped" in with the Indian population at that time because they were all part of the minority. So, US Censuses made no distinction between red, black or brown skinned people or their races. If you married "off colored" men or women of a different race, all of society shunned and mocked you and your children. They were moved to old sections of towns where it would flood, they could not own property, and were for the most part kept out of the general population view. Area's we call slums or ghetto today.